Sheriff: About 1,300 illegal pot shops across NYC shut down since creation of 'Operation Padlock to Protect'
Operation Padlock has seized more than $86 million in illegal products, according to the New York City Sheriff's Office.
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Since 'Operation Padlock to Protect' was created in May, New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda says more than 1,298 illegal pot shops across the city have been shut down.
Of those stores, 393 were in Brooklyn.
However, it has faced legal pushback in Queens, where a judge ruled parts of the law unconstitutional.
Sheriff Miranda says one challenge that needs to be met is updating the law to close loopholes, like people selling illegally outside a shop once it's shut down.
Miranda says the goal is to keep illegal drugs out of communities.
“People who are currently doing these things clearly don’t care about the health and safety of the community. They clearly indicated they’re not trying to be compliant with rules and regulations because these are all things set by the Office of Cannabis Management, so they need to be inspected," said Sheriff Miranda.
Owner of The Xperience Coffee House & Juice Bar Christopher Lawrence says overall, it's been a helpful operation.
"I feel like it was getting to a point where almost every block, every corner, bodega's were turning into smoke shops," said Lawrence.
His shop is right next to a shop that was padlocked in Canarsie. He says he wants to see local stakeholders have more of an input on the fate of these stores.
"You should empower the community boards for these things. At the end of the day as a business owner, you can look at it from a perspective of 'OK this community doesn't want me,'" said Lawrence.
Operation Padlock has seized more than $86 million in illegal products, according to the New York City Sheriff's Office.
